Chandler’s earth science class went on a field trip to walk on a trail by a mountain with places next to the trail where they could see layers of rock that were different colors and different thickness. He remarked how easy it was to see which layers of rock were older than the others by which ones were higher. Chandler’s teacher responded that it can be hard to be sure that superposition is the appropriate way to date the layers of rock. Why did his teacher question the use of simple superposition to date the rock layers?

Answer Choices:

A
Forces such as weathering and erosion can change the location of rock layers, sometimes putting
younger rocks above older rocks
B
Forces such as gravity and magnetism can change the location of rock layers such that older rocks
are sometimes located above younger rocks
C
Forces such as tilting, folding, faults, intrusions, and unconformities can change the location of rock
layers such that younger rocks are sometimes located above older rocks
D
Forces such as folding, faults, and intrusions, can change the location of rock layers such that older
rocks are sometimes located above younger rocks